I am usually front and center for the Opening Ceremony of  the Olympics. This year I passed.

I have seen highlights, but I am just not into it. I enjoyed Daily Beast writer, Kelly Williams Brown, glib analysis, “there were creepy montages, breathtaking historical amnesia, a stray dog inside the stadium, and a set designer who’s likely on the way to Siberia right now for an Olympic ring failure.”

Putin’s politics have cast a giant shadow over the event. Here’s hoping I can transcend politics and embrace the competition…get all rah, rah USA.

Case in point, Putin’s take on homosexuality. He defended Russia’s anti-gay law by equating gays with pedophiles and said Russia needs to “cleanse” itself of homosexuality if it wants to increase its birth rate.

Kudos to the U.S. and Obama for selecting Billie Jean King as head of the delegation along with hockey player Caitlin Cahow and figure skater Brian Boitano to represent the U.S. delegation…all are openly gay. Unfortunately, King’s mother became ill and she was unable to attend at the last minute.

Additionally, The Sochi Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony culminated with the lighting of the Olympic torch by former gold medal skater and a member of Parliament in Putin’s United Russian party, Irina Rodnina.

The reason I am mentioning this is that several months ago Rodnina tweeted a doctored photo of the Obama’s. I think this photo speaks for itself. There was quite a ruckus in the international community…odd decision to choose Rodnina for such a high profile moment. Either I am devoid of a sense of humor or this is unbelievably inappropriate and racist.

Great Olympic moments stay with us forever. Who can forget the gold standard set by Mark Spitz and surpassed by Michael Phelps, Jesse Owens winning ways at the Berlin Olympics, the Dream Team, Mary Lou Retton captivating the nation, Carl Lewis’ 4 gold medals, Tommie Smith and John Carlos raising their fists on the podium and the 1980 U.S. hockey team defeating Russia to win the gold…and so many more.

News relating to the accommodations, toilets, water, food have been trending negative. I have friends who are in Sochi working for NBC and they have said that their accommodations are fine, the Russian people lovely and the stray dogs are still hanging around and not being eradicated, but seriously, whether it is the lack of man made snow, the political controversies, or the unpreparedness, Russian really is an odd choice for the Olympics.

Breaking News…I am experiencing an attitude adjustment…after posting today and witnessing various Olympic competitions, I am heading out to get some red, white and blue apparel, a pink tutu, have my Barbie skates sharpened and plant myself in front of the big screen. The figure skating team of Meryl Davis and Charlie White have awaken my sense of patriotism…that’s the spirit. GO USA!